Shaun Burgoyne's crucial goal summed up the difference between Hawthorn and Melbourne in their must-win AFL match on Sunday at the MCG.

The Hawks were leading by only 10 points, 22 minutes into the last term in often-atrocious conditions.

Burgoyne was somehow without an opponent at a boundary throw-in and his snapped goal sealed the result, with the Hawks eventually winning by 21 points.

The 15.9 (99) to 12.6 (78) killed off Melbourne's finals chances and was a massive boost to the eighth-placed Hawks after a tough fortnight.

"Our back stoppage stuff, their forward stoppage stuff really cost us - the rest of it, probably in the second quarter they (Hawthorn) didn't take their opportunities," said Melbourne coach Dean Bailey.

"But I thought our guys just hung in there, kept chipping away at it, which was a good sign."

When asked about Burgoyne's goal, Bailey replied: "that's the stuff - a couple of their clearances were quite good."

The Demons lacked nothing for effort, but Hawthorn's greater experience and poise in the tough conditions eventually proved crucial.

While Melbourne again showed they have improved greatly this season, it was still Hawthorn's sixth-straight win over the Demons.

Melbourne suffered a major blow in the second term when playmaker Aaron Davey limped off with a lower leg injury, which the club fears is a fracture.

A few days after the AFL proposed rules to limit interchanges, Bailey could not decide which was more significant - the loss of Davey's skill or being reduced to three fit men on the bench.

"You lose him, if you could get a rule that says the substitute is as good as he is, that would be a good rule to have," Bailey said with a wry grin.

The Demons led as late at the third term, but Bailey also rued their inability to maintain the pressure on Hawthorn when they were in front.

It did not help when Lance Franklin goaled from a dubious free kick in the third quarter.

"There might have been a couple of tough ones (umpiring decisions) in there," Bailey said.

Franklin kicked three goals, but young Demons defender James Frawley won their duel.

Much of the game was played in Hawthorn's front half and they probably should have been further ahead at halftime.

They had 20 inside 50s to only six in the second term, but the two teams kicked four goals apiece and the Hawks led by just three points.

"It was a tough slog, we just needed to make sure they didn't get those out-the-back goals as frequently as what they did in that second quarter," said Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.

Tough Hawks onballer Brad Sewell was best afield on an afternoon where the wet weather demanded tough, hard football.

"It's a good feeling when you win games of footy and you just cop knocks and bruises, you know you've played a game of footy," Clarkson said.

"It's good to be back at the MCG, playing on our home ground on a tough, hard day and (against) a good opponent."

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